After walking across the Meadows to go to those early morning tutorials at university for a good…read moreyear, I had become familiar, as does everybody who walks that way, with the local Big Issue vendor. A cherry and friendly man, after a few months I decided to finally purchase a copy of the Big Issue. And since then, I have frequently bought it and enjoyed it. At first, you might not think much of it, but after a while you will appreciate what a great read it is. It has a range of interviews with stars (There was a brilliant interview with Amy MacDonald recently!) and also has a lot of in depth reporting on local issues. Indeed, I have found the Big Issue to be a brilliant hub of knowledge for reviews of local gigs and shows, and also a great source for adverts for jobs, events etc... Most of all, the majority of vendors I have come across are really friendly and are happy to show you directions as some know the city so well. If you fancy supporting a good cause and want a magazine which has the big interviews intertwined with local issues then the Big Issue is a great read! (Also, it reviews the Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, an added bonus!)

The Scotsman used to be a daily read for me, but this newspaper, like all Scottish newspapers have…read morestruggled to match the quality of the Scottish versions of the London Papers for some years now. However, the Scotsman today is still a solid read, with its coverage of local and political stories. With its offices located just around the corner from the Scottish Parliament it has used its prime position to great effect with stealing a lead on other papers when it comes to the events in Holyrood! It also has some great commentators on politics and economics, such as Bill Jamieson and George Kerevan. Furthermore, it consistently provides good coverage of cultural issues in Scotland, however I think the idea that this is a national newspaper might be stretching the truth somewhat, with its emphasis on the East of Scotland. If you want to read a newspaper which has detailed articles, but also has some fun, not so serious articles in it, then the Scotsman is the paper you should pick up at your local newsagents!

The Scotsman is the local newspaper and a good one. I'm writing this review because when I was in…read moreEdinburgh, there was a store that was giving away a free newspaper with each cup of coffee. I took a picture of the sign and a woman in my office has it on her bulletin board. It says: "Free Scotsman with each cup of coffee" She wants to go to Edinburgh for a cup of coffee. :)

Edinburgh's profile as a city has increased dramatically over the past couple of decades. Twenty…read moreyears ago it would be the last place on Earth you'd expect to find designer shops, trendy bars and boutique hotels, and while it may lose some of it's charm in the transformation, there's no denying that the city has very much moved with the times. Pick up a copy of the Evening News however, and you really wouldn't know it. Surely the last bastion of Edinburgh's old fashioned curtain-twitching mentality, it really is a small-town read at it's worst. Actual news, such as the recent discovery of dismembered human remains in someone's fridge, is shunted in favour of "cat stuck up tree" stories and pictures of local businessmen holding up oversized charity cheques. Worst of all however, is the opinion column, which day in day out, regardless of subject, descends into the usual favourite hobby of the city's more militant types, venting ill-informed hatred at Glasgow and it's residents. Showcasing a peculiar mix of anger, snobbery, and oddly enough jealousy, it's an attitude that tellingly isn't replicated in the West where in general they show little interest in the capital city. In fairness the sports coverage isn't too bad, and gives better coverage of the Edinburgh teams than most of the Old Firm dominated Scottish national media. That's about as good as it gets, but the comedy right-wing opinions of suburban Neighbourhood Watch members on the letters pages is also not bad for a laugh.

As with every major city, Edinburgh to, has its own local city newspaper. The Edinburgh Evening…read moreNews isn't a paper I always buy but when I do the quality throughout the paper is always mixed! The best part of the paper has consistently always been the sport pages. If you want the gossip of the city's two main football clubs, Hearts and Hibs, then the Edinburgh Evening News is a must. No other paper can match the reporting of these two clubs! On top of the sport pages, this paper also provides surprisingly good coverage of the on goings at the Scottish Parliament for a local paper. However, with the rest of the paper a flick through is all that is required. The local news is presented in a more professional manner than other local papers but at times can be quite mundane. However, its local coverage of the tram debacle has been first class! Better than most local papers, the Edinburgh Evening News is a decent buy every so often to keep on contact with Edinburgh news.

Good basic newsagent that sells all essentials food. Also has some nice looking fresh fruit and…read moreveg. Prices are good and the staff are all friendly. Shop is kind clean and tidy and it is not off putting to visit. Also sells some mobile phone sim cards.

It's always a bonus if you find yourself sitting down in a pub or a coffee shop and see copies of…read moreThe Skinny lying about. Compared to the double glazing ads and out of date non-news you get in most free papers, it's journalistic heaven. Compared to papers you'd actually pay for it's not that bad either, It's a bit up it's own arse at times, but if you're interested in what's going on slightly left of centre in the music, film, media and art scenes across Scotland, then it's probably the best publication currently available, free or not. Granted, some of the content an writing will appeal only to the most insufferable arseholes who bore you senseless by wittering on about the latest no-mark band they've found on Myspace, but even taking that into account there's plenty of reading to be had here.

The Skinny is a great free music newspaper. It is a great source to find new upcoming local bands,…read moreand it also has extensive listings for upcoming gigs, clubs and comedy shows. I always enjoy reading music publications, and compared to many main stream music magazines, the Skinny certainly provides a better range of coverage on a broader spectrum of music. Indeed, it recent years, the Skinny has gone further and now features articles on theatre, books, art and fashion. Apart from the emphasis on local new bands, the paper also focuses on the alternative-indie music scene. Indeed, it recently had a headline interview with the American band The National. If you want to know what is happening in the latest music circles, then the Skinny is essential reading for you. It might not come in a glossy magazine format, but its content is head and shoulders above other publications.

Luath Press is one of a few independent book publishers in Edinburgh. It is not as well known as…read moreCanongate Press, but that does not mean that it does not publish great books. My interest in this publisher is that it offers a great range of books on issue of Scottish politics. It has published books by former First Minister Henry McLeish and Tom Brown on the future of Scotland (Scotland the Road Divides is a great read if you are into constitutional politics), whilst Lesley Riddoch has published a book about the future of the Gaelic culture (A very riveting read). Luath Press started off in the field of travel books, and this genre is still one of the bedrocks of the company, with guides detailing the different parts of Scotland. Go on grab yourself some Scottish literature!

From the owner: Luath Press are award-winning book publishers based in the heart of Scotland's historic capital…read more Fiction, poetry, history, politics, travel, art, walking and much more.

As a student currently studying politics at university, and somewhat a political enthusiast (I…read moreknow, not cool!) in Edinburgh one comes to know the best sources of information surrounding Scottish politics. One of the best sources of the events and news stories going around the Scottish parliament is the Holyrood political magazine. The magazine writes on the latest political news stories, analyses the latest policies regarding a spectrum of issues (Including education, health, justice, local government and business) and has some of the most respected figures in Scottish politics commentating. The likes of former First Minister Henry McLeish, John Curtice, Jim Sillars and Rab McNeil all give their own views on the latest stories and events. The magazine sadly cannot be bought at your normal newsagent (to my frustration) but if you go into one of the main libraries in Edinburgh or in the politics department at the University of Edinburgh, copies of the magazine will be there! A really good read and is laid out in a easy to read format! Vital for any political anorak!

I bought the book Guantanamo Diary by Mohamedou Ould Slahi directly from Canongate via their…read morewebsite, as they were offering a discount offer with the release of the book. I am delighted by their service: not only did the book arrive extremely quickly, but they offer a free extra book with every online purchase! Not only did I receive a handpicked book to go alongside my purchased title (Redeployment by Phil Klay), but they also wrote me a lovely and thoughtful handwritten note (by Jo) with it! Such high class service in this day and age!! I am delighted. PS - the two books were also excellent too, five stars for each of those also! (for my full review visit the relevant titles on Goodreads).

Throughout my time in Edinburgh I have obtained a habit of visiting old second hand book shops,…read moreinfluenced by my habit of reading. And through my reading I have come to appreciate one of the most well known publishers in Edinburgh, Canongate Books. Set up in the 1990s, it is not as large as the mainstream publishers, but through time Canongate has emerged as one of the best places for writers to publish their books. The company promotes new writers as well as old ones, whilst also keeping that distinct Scottish character. They have also branched out by publishing books by Nick Cave and soon will publish the first book by Dizzee Rascal! (Not bad for small independent publishers). If you want a read, then Canongate will have a lot to offer!